The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-09-03
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM PITTSFIELD, MASS.
The Town of Pittsf1eld-The Poets Own
Home-Beauties of the Berkshire Hills
and Some of the People who Wor-
shipped There-Visiting Shak-
or Settlement &c &c

PITrsFIELD, MASS, August goth, 1887.
Mcssrs. Longnecker Bros. Il do not know the
population of the town of Pittsfeld. The town
ship has population of fourteen or fifteen thous-
and persons. There are many beautiful houses in
this place and the lawns very nicely kept, and
in many cases there are no fences between the
lawns and the streets, the houses frequently being
set back quite distance from the street. There
are great number of fine elm trees in the town
as well as maple and other trees have noticed
too great many robins here, on the lawn of
property the next but one to the house in which
we are boarding. counted once more than
twenty, and it is very pleasant to see them fear
lessly hopping about.
The Court House in this place is very large,
fine building, and the Athen@um here is a beaut-
full one. There are about 1900 volumes in the
library in it, and in the hall above are number
of fine casts of famous pieces of statuary and
most exquisite work of art in marble by Benzoni,
representing Rebecca presenting herself to Isaac.
She is represented yelled and yet her features
are distinctly and beautifully represented. am
not connoisseur in such matters, but this statue
strikes me as being an exceedingly fine work of
art. There is also museum in the Athen@um
building in which q number of interesting OBJ
jects. In the building is fine marble bust of
Gen. William F. Bartlett, and also of other dis
tngushed men of this place.
In this town is the house in which H. W. Long
famous poem, "The old clock on the stairs" l
have been told the clock was purchased by his
brother-in.la law Mr.. Appleton, and that it has been
removed. A few miles from this place is the house
in which Hawthorne lived for some time and in
which he wrote "The house with seven gables"
Oliver Wendell Holmes used at one period of his
life to make summer visits to this place. The
Rev. John Todd, D. D., distinguished minister
of the Congregational Church and the author of
number of works which have large circulation,
was in charge OF one of the Congregational
Churches of this place for many years. Other
authors too have lived here and the place has
decidedly literary taste
Pittsield is surrounded by hills or mountains.
Call them which you please and look which way
you will and you will have fine view. Berkshire
county extends from Vermont to Connecticut and
borders on the eastern part of New York, which is
distant less than eight miles from Pittsfeld. The
Berkshire Hills Who has not heard of them!
"Who can these glories tell
Though he write long and well?"
Not I, certainly, nor shall l attempt it when so
many have failed, even in their own estimation.
Henry Ward Beecher wrote thus of morning
amid the glories of the Berkshire Hills: "0n such
glorious morning of perfect day as this, when
all the smoky haze has gone from the horizon,
when the sun comes up fresh and clear and will
60 down unreddened by vapor, the mountains
come back from their hiding, and wander forth
wondering how there should be sorrow in the
world. Each hour is q perfect hour,
clear, full and unsated 1t is the joy of being
| alive. Such days are let down from
heaven" Julian Hawthorn writes thus: "Lenox
was one of those places where man might be
| supposed to write because the beauty around him
| moved him to inspiration" Lenox is one of the
most beautiful places in the Berkshire Hills it is
said, and is perhaps the most fashionable. have
not seen it yet, but had intended to visit it to day,
| but a heavy rain which lasted nearly all day pre-
| rod mo here / N
to- morrow. 1t is about six miles from Pittsfeld.
Stockbrdge and Great Darlington two other
| places that are said to be peculiarly beautiful
! But why should mention Ger tain places as beau
| tifu when from all can learn the whole range of
| the Berkshire is filled with beauty. 1t is said
that Rev. H. w. Beechers admiration of and love
for the Berkshire Hills became so great that his
congregations of Plymouth Church, in Brooklyn,
| feared he would leave them and 60 to Lenox to
| live. Bryant, Thorean, and numerous other dis
tinguished authors and prominent men have great
| ly admired the Berkshire Hills, and Mrs. Fanny
| Kemble not whit behind them in her adj
| miration of the beauties of the Berkshire region
Catharine M. Sedgwick was equally enthusiastic,
| and it was in the Berkshire Hills that she wrote
several of her works. Surely region must pos
| sess peculiar attractions which can so charm
genius, wealth and fashion. I have mentioned
| persons of genius who greatly admired this coun-
| try; wealth and fashion also admire it. Mrs.
|
Berkshire Hills which is said to have cost one
| million of dollars. A gentleman purchased not
long since 100 acres of land at $500 per acre, upon
| which he intends to erect large handsome house,
and multitudes of fashionable people annually
| come to the Berkshire Hills whose beauties must
be seen to be appreciated or understood. Come to
see them, Messrs. Editors, and 1 think you too
will admire them.
| Last Saturday, in company with my wife,
daughters and another lady, drove, or rather
nepanon VI rIey, anu Inen TO Lenatlon Springs
If your patience is not yet exhausted by the
length of this letter, fear it would be if were to
attempt to describe the Shakers, the beauties of
| the Lebanon Valley and the medicinal properties
of the celebrated Lebanon Springs, so I will sim
ply say we all enjoyed the ride very much.
wish could stay longer in this part of the coun-
| try and that my purse was full enough to enable
me to visit all the beautiful places in this charm
| ing region, but want of time and due regard to
the condition of my finances alike forbid it. 1t
is our intention to 60 to Hudson City next We'd
nesday and to 60 down the Hudson on Thursday
in one of the fine steam vessels that ply between
Albany and New York; to stay in New York
until Saturday morning, when we propose to start
by the $3.50 train for Baltimore and to arrive in
good old Baltimore county next Saturday after
noon, when shall feel as have often felt after
visiting beautiful scenery and pleasant places,
that there is after all emo place like home be it
ever so humble" and when I shall again feel the
warm grasp of the hands of valued friends "who
kindly greet me home" from these trips, which 1
find so necessary for my health and which enable
me to go through the labors and worry of another
year. AS ever yours faithfully VIAToR